FROM: Family Foundation [FamilyFoundation@familyfoundation.org]
DATE: Monday, September 25, 2006
SUBJECT: Information Alert: How do you define marriage?
 


Victoria Cobb, Executive Director
Monday, September 25, 2006

Information Alert: How do you define marriage?

Its time our opponents give Virginians an honest answer to that question.  For weeks, they have tried to divert attention by alleging "unintended consequences" should the marriage amendment pass.  Both the General Assembly and the Attorney General have dismissed those concerns.  The real issue that Virginian's will be voting on November 7th is how we will define marriage for future generations.

So, today, I sent a letter to Equality Virginia's ballot committee, The Commonwealth Coalition, asking that organization's leadership to honestly answer the question of how they want marriage to be defined in Virginia. 

I made the announcement concerning the letter at a va4marriage.org luncheon in Richmond where Congressman Eric Cantor was the keynote speaker.  At that event, Congressman Cantor expressed his support for the amendment, and contributed a $2500 check.  Lt. Governor Bill Bolling also addressed the crowd and donated $1000.  

AG Bob McDonnell, and Delegates Bill Janis (R-56, Glen Allen) and John O'Bannon (R-73, Richmond) were also present.  I'd also like to thank David Barrett and Barrett Capital Management in Richmond for sponsoring today's luncheon.

To date, we have yet to hear from opponents to the amendment what they want marriage to look like in Virginia.  Our citizens deserve to know exactly how opponents to the amendment define marriage and how they plan to bring that definition to Virginia.

In a letter addressed to Commonwealth Coalition campaign manager Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, va4marriage.org asked that she first "honestly state your organization's position on the issue of how marriage should be defined in Virginia."  In addition, she was asked to answer the following questions:

What combinations of relationships should be allowed to legally marry? Which should not?  Should bisexual groups be allowed to marry?  Should polygamy remain illegal?

How would you say no to forms of marriage that you oppose?

What is the standard for deciding who should be allowed to marry?

What plans do your organizations have to bring about changes to marriage laws in the future?

The letter went on to say, "A recent publication stated that, 'LGBT organizations have developed a strategic plan to win marriage equality.  A 15-year strategy has been agreed to by all the major [gay rights] organizational players.  Funding is in place, and new tactics are being developed and tested in this year's biggest clashes with anti-gay groups.'

Clearly, the goal of organizations such as Equality Virginia and its ballot committee, The Commonwealth Coalition, is to redefine marriage.  Virginians deserve to know exactly what they want that definition to be.

The Commonwealth Coalition and its allies cannot be allowed to hide behind their deceptive "unintended consequences" diversionary argument any longer.  The vote on November 7th is about marriage and how marriage will be defined.  The least opponents owe Virginians is their definition of marriage and what they plan to do to bring about that definition.  

Virginians deserve to know.